Want to win a car or holiday? Just lose weight
Lose weight and win a car or even a holiday.
That is part of the pitch for the first national campaign to promote healthy weight management through incentives.
The One Million KG Challenge was launched yesterday by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) to help address obesity rates in Singapore.
Based on the 2010 National Health Survey, the latest data available, 11 per cent of local adults aged 18 to 69 were obese, against 7 per cent in 2004.
“We want people to see that healthy weight management can be achieved by making manageable changes,” HPB chief Zee Yoong Kang told The Straits Times.
“With support, motivation and everyone working together, we can beat the trend.”
The challenge is open to Singapore residents aged 18 to 64 with a body mass index (BMI) ranging from 18.5 to 37.4.
Those in the “moderate to high risk” range of 23 to 37.4 can pledge to lose 3kg; those in the “healthy” range of 18.5 to 22.9 can work to maintain their weight.
Those who are underweight or whose BMI exceeds 37.4 will not be allowed to take part.
Participants will get fitness kits and can collect a “pixel” monthly when they weigh in at Wellness Kiosks or join in the activities. Accessed online, the pixels will reveal various prizes.
Those who lose weight can participate in the Grand Draw in October. Top prizes include a car and a holiday package.
Ms Esther Tan, 32, signed up at a roadshow at AIA Tower yesterday.
The corporate and marketing communications manager at AIA was inspired after her firm launched a health programme for clients last year.
She said: “We’ve been advocating healthy living to them so we must walk the talk too.”
Registration will be open to the public from March. Go to www.millionkg.sg for more details.
Source: Asia One
Published: 21 Jan 2014
